Margaret Murphy O'Mahony (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to invite the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, to the Chamber to give us an update on the bluetongue virus. It very important that we be proactive rather than reactive. As the Deputy Leader knows, there was one case and we thought it would be confined to that, but and all of a sudden there were three more. It is spread by midges, and as soon as the weather gets warmer, they will be more active. I am very concerned that we are going to leave it too late. Perhaps we should discuss a vaccination programme. It is also very important to discuss the moves we make so that this will not effect trade with either the European market or the non-European market. It is important that the Minister come here and lay out his plans.